Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Research methods and resources
Data Element Identification and Data Collection Procedures for the HRSA Direct-to-Consumer Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program
Provides an overview of the development of a common set of data elements to evaluate the Office of the Advancement of Teleheath's Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program, which aims to build an evidence base for telehealth in rural settings. Outlines 27 patient-level, encounter-level, and outcome data elements on patients who receive direct-to-consumer telehealth services and a comparable group of patients who receive in-person services. Describes data collection and management procedures.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Kimberly Merchant, Fred Ullrich, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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Provides an overview of the development of a common set of data elements to evaluate the Office of the Advancement of Teleheath's Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program, which aims to build an evidence base for telehealth in rural settings. Outlines 27 patient-level, encounter-level, and outcome data elements on patients who receive direct-to-consumer telehealth services and a comparable group of patients who receive in-person services. Describes data collection and management procedures.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Kimberly Merchant, Fred Ullrich, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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A Formal Framework For Incorporating Equity Into Health Care Quality Measurement
Describes equity weighting, a measurement used to address population health disparities by examining multiple demographic factors that then interpret healthcare quality for specific population groups. Utilizes 2017 Medicare colorectal cancer screening data to show examples of equity weighting, with demographics broken down by patient race and rurality.
Author(s): Denis Agniel, Irineo Cabreros, Cheryl L. Damberg, Marc N. Elliott, Rhianna Rogers
Citation: Health Affairs, 42(10)
Date: 10/2023
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Describes equity weighting, a measurement used to address population health disparities by examining multiple demographic factors that then interpret healthcare quality for specific population groups. Utilizes 2017 Medicare colorectal cancer screening data to show examples of equity weighting, with demographics broken down by patient race and rurality.
Author(s): Denis Agniel, Irineo Cabreros, Cheryl L. Damberg, Marc N. Elliott, Rhianna Rogers
Citation: Health Affairs, 42(10)
Date: 10/2023
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Tribal Epidemiology Centers: At the Forefront of American Indian/Alaska Native Public Health
Discusses Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) and their work with tribal partners to address challenges related to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) data. Includes information on culturally sensitive data collection, the importance of TEC work, AI/AN data best practices, impacts of COVID-19, and more.
Author(s): Laura D. Cassidy, DenYelle Kenyon, Jamie Ritchey, et al.
Citation: Public Health Reports, 138(2 suppl)
Date: 08/2023
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Discusses Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) and their work with tribal partners to address challenges related to American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) data. Includes information on culturally sensitive data collection, the importance of TEC work, AI/AN data best practices, impacts of COVID-19, and more.
Author(s): Laura D. Cassidy, DenYelle Kenyon, Jamie Ritchey, et al.
Citation: Public Health Reports, 138(2 suppl)
Date: 08/2023
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Food for Thought - Facing the Facts About Food Insecurity: Episode 2
Podcast episode discussing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research on food insecurity in rural areas. Describes the prevalence of food insecure households, behavioral responses to food insecurity, and how USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) research and data can inform policy and community-driven solutions.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Podcast episode discussing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research on food insecurity in rural areas. Describes the prevalence of food insecure households, behavioral responses to food insecurity, and how USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) research and data can inform policy and community-driven solutions.
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: Impact! Communications, Inc.
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Study Protocol for a Multi-Level Cross-Sectional Study on the Equitable Reach and Implementation of Coordinated Specialty Care for Early Psychosis
Examines ways to improve outreach and access to rural and underserved communities in relation to coordinated specialty care (CSC) for early psychosis. Discusses the creation of a geospatial database of CSC programs in the U.S. that includes program-level data, provider-level data, and neighborhood-level census data.
Author(s): Oladunni Oluwoye, Ari Lissau, Sheldon Stokes, et al.
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 4, 90
Date: 08/2023
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Examines ways to improve outreach and access to rural and underserved communities in relation to coordinated specialty care (CSC) for early psychosis. Discusses the creation of a geospatial database of CSC programs in the U.S. that includes program-level data, provider-level data, and neighborhood-level census data.
Author(s): Oladunni Oluwoye, Ari Lissau, Sheldon Stokes, et al.
Citation: Implementation Science Communications, 4, 90
Date: 08/2023
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Characterizing Rugged Terrain in the United States
Analyzes the impact of rugged terrain on travel barriers and community development in U.S. Census tracts, with a focus on the relationship between terrain, rurality, and low-income areas. Presents two representations of topographic variability: the Area Ruggedness Scale and the Road Ruggedness Scale. Includes related maps and data applying the scales to regions, states, and rural and urban areas of the U.S.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Dobis, John Cromartie, Ryan Williams, Kyle Reed
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Analyzes the impact of rugged terrain on travel barriers and community development in U.S. Census tracts, with a focus on the relationship between terrain, rurality, and low-income areas. Presents two representations of topographic variability: the Area Ruggedness Scale and the Road Ruggedness Scale. Includes related maps and data applying the scales to regions, states, and rural and urban areas of the U.S.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Dobis, John Cromartie, Ryan Williams, Kyle Reed
Date: 08/2023
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Connecting Minority-Serving Institutions and Rural Research
Discusses minority serving institutions (MSI) and their role in rural research. Highlights rural-focused research systems, research of MSIs, and opportunities for integration of the two.
Author(s): Marjory Givens, Brian Dabson, Hilary Joyner, Olivia Little
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Discusses minority serving institutions (MSI) and their role in rural research. Highlights rural-focused research systems, research of MSIs, and opportunities for integration of the two.
Author(s): Marjory Givens, Brian Dabson, Hilary Joyner, Olivia Little
Date: 07/2023
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Developing a National-Scale Exposure Index for Combined Environmental Hazards and Social Stressors and Applications to the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort
Discusses the process of building an index to assess environmental hazards and social stressors on pregnancy. Utilizes factors such as pollution, lack of green space, social economic status, social vulnerability, race/ethnicity, metro versus non-metro location, and more to define exposure risk.
Author(s): Sheena E. Martenies, Mingyu Zhang, Anne E. Corrigan, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(14), 6339
Date: 07/2023
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Discusses the process of building an index to assess environmental hazards and social stressors on pregnancy. Utilizes factors such as pollution, lack of green space, social economic status, social vulnerability, race/ethnicity, metro versus non-metro location, and more to define exposure risk.
Author(s): Sheena E. Martenies, Mingyu Zhang, Anne E. Corrigan, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(14), 6339
Date: 07/2023
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Recruitment and Reach in a School-Based Pediatric Obesity Intervention Trial in Rural Areas
Compares participation and reach of opt-in and screen-first recruitment methods for a pediatric obesity treatment trial in rural Kansas schools. Includes an overview of the program's school recruitment, personnel onboarding, and participant recruitment processes. Discusses strategies for implementing similar school-based research and interventions.
Author(s): Bethany Forseth, Brittany Lancaster, Megan Olalde, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1181757
Date: 06/2023
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Compares participation and reach of opt-in and screen-first recruitment methods for a pediatric obesity treatment trial in rural Kansas schools. Includes an overview of the program's school recruitment, personnel onboarding, and participant recruitment processes. Discusses strategies for implementing similar school-based research and interventions.
Author(s): Bethany Forseth, Brittany Lancaster, Megan Olalde, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1181757
Date: 06/2023
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Indicators of Healthy Aging: A Guide to Explore Healthy Aging Data through Community Health Improvement
Provides an overview for local health departments (LHDs) and partners to assess the components of healthy aging in their communities through research, data, and practice. Focuses on tracking health indicators and the social determinants of health (SDOH) and how to use data while considering community-level factors that impact healthcare access, demographics, location/rurality, Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) status, and more.
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organizations: National Association of County and City Health Officials, Trust for America's Health
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Provides an overview for local health departments (LHDs) and partners to assess the components of healthy aging in their communities through research, data, and practice. Focuses on tracking health indicators and the social determinants of health (SDOH) and how to use data while considering community-level factors that impact healthcare access, demographics, location/rurality, Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) status, and more.
Date: 06/2023
Sponsoring organizations: National Association of County and City Health Officials, Trust for America's Health
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